The state of insecurity saw a severe deterioration during January 2007. Al Mezan has documented the killing of 63 Palestinians (8 children), the injuring of 306 (33 children), and the kidnapping of 90 people during this month. The number of killings since the beginning of 2007 has exceeded the rate of all killings since 2003. 18 persons were killed in infighting in 2003 and 57 persons in 2004. The toll of January 2007 has reached more than 60% of that of 2005, and over 25% of the entire of 2006. Those years witnessed ascending deterioration of the state of insecurity. Read more about Al Mezan alarmed at internal fighting in Gaza
Hussein Khayri El-Shobasi (30) from Khan Yunis was killed yesterday by unknown gunman in Khan Yunis; and Bashir Mohammad Issa (40) was injured in Gaza in similar circumstances. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 12:15 on Wednesday, 31 January 2007, Bashir Issa was moderately injured by several bullets in the feet. Gunmen traveling in a car fired at Issa, who works in Force 17, in Jala Street in Gaza City. He was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital in Beit Lahia for treatment. Read more about Palestinian killed by unknown gunmen; another injured
Mr. Obeidat has been arrested by Israel five times: in May 1978, he was detained for 3 months; in May 1982, he spent 102 days in detention - under interrogation the entire time - and was then released without charge; on 11 December 1985, he was arrested, interrogated and was sentenced to prison for 2 years for being a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP); on 30 March 2001, he was arrested and interrogated for 54 days in the Russian Compound detention center in Jerusalem. During this period of detention, he was subjected to severe physical and psychological pain and suffering and was imprisoned until January 2003, again for membership in the PFLP. Read more about The Case of Rasem Inad Ahmad Obeidat
PCHR welcomes the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Fatah, which was reached under Egyptian sponsorship in the early morning hours of Tuesday, 30 January 2007. After announcing the agreement, the OPT in general and the Gaza Strip in particular have been calm. However, some forms of militancy and the deployment of gunmen remained in some neighborhoods. The Centre calls for the immediate return to political dialogue between both sides as the only option out of the current impasse. However, prior to this agreement, incidents of internal fighting continued. Read more about PCHR: National Unity Essential
Internal fighting continues to spread and escalate throughout the OPT. Over the past 24 hours, seven people were killed, one by mistake, and 26 others were injured, including two inside their homes. More than 14 people were kidnapped as well. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 12:50 on Monday, 29 january 2007, Mustafa Talal Kardash 921) was killed by a bullet to the chest while he was near his house in Tal El-Hawa Quarter in Gaza City. The area is the scene of continuous clashes between members of the Preventive Security Apparatus and Executive Force. Read more about Seven killed, 14 kidnapped in continued armed clashes
Eighteen international non-governmental organisations and humanitarian agencies have come together to jointly call on the United Nations to reassess its so-called ‘Register of Damage’. On 15 December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly voted by overwhelming majority to adopt a resolution establishing a United Nations Register of Damage caused by the Construction of the Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This ‘Register of Damage’ is intended to work as a mechanism for paying out damages to Palestinians whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by Israel’s ongoing, illegal construction of its separation wall in West Bank land. Read more about International NGOs call on UN to reassess the 'Register of Damage'
“A man without a country,” is what Judge Maryanne Trump Barry called the hapless stowaway, Salim Yassir, who was born in Palestine, exiled to Libya, and jailed in the USA. Four years after foiling Yassir’s 2000 attempt to enter the USA, immigration authorities were still claiming they should keep him in jail while they looked for a country that would take him. But Judge Barry (Donald Trump’s older sister) put an end to that legal purgatory in 2004 when she ruled that a man without a country has rights, too. Yassir could just as easily live outside jail while authorities pursued their executive agendas. Read more about Children without a Country: Maryam Remains in Texas Jail
Four people were killed, including a child, and six others injured in the continued fighting between Fatah and Hamas supporters in Gaza and Jabalia. PCHR’s preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 07:00 on Sunday, 28 November 2007, armed clashes resumed between members of the Preventive Security Apparatus and the Interior Ministry Executive Force. The clashes continued for nearly an hour and resulted in the injury of Abed Rabbo El-Khalidi (a 55-year-old policeman from Sheikh Radwan Quarter in Gaza City). He was on his way to work when he was injured. It is noted that clashed erupted between both sides last evening, but no injuries were reported. Read more about Four More Killed in Clashes between Armed Groups and Security Forces
PCHR strongly condemns internal fighting between Hamas and Fatah movements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), especially the Gaza Strip, which has killed 19 persons, including 8 civilian bystanders, and wounded at least 70 others. PCHR calls upon the leaders of the two movements and all other nationalist and Islamic factions to make sincere efforts to contain and stop such regrettable and shameful fighting, go back to dialogue and put higher national interests of the Palestinian people above all narrow partisan interests and political conflict over authority. Read more about Are We Proud of This?!
Today, B’Tselem is publishing the findings of its investigation into the action by undercover forces that went awry in Ramallah on 4 January. During an operation to arrest wanted Palestinians, the undercover forces were exposed, resulting in a confrontation with Palestinians who threw stones and petrol bombs at the Israeli undercover and rescue forces, who responded with gunfire. Attack helicopters used machinegun fire to provide cover to the rescue operation. B’Tselem also received reports of gunfire by armed Palestinians. During the operation, Israeli security forces killed four Palestinians. Read more about B'Tselem: Stop using undercover forces in combat actions
